VATICAN CITY (ChurchMilitant.com) – In a recent interview, Pope Francis made a significant departure from current Vatican practices by revealing his intentions for a simplified funeral and burial apart from St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis
In a conversation with Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki for N+, he expressed his wish to be interred at Rome’s Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major.
Francis insisted that his final arrangements should not emphasize ceremonial grandeur.
The pope, who will turn 87 on Dec. 17, discussed his health, including recent issues like bronchitis, and his reevaluation of international travel.
Despite these challenges, he expressed a positive outlook, seeing old age as a maturing and enriching experience.
He shared plans for 2024, which might include visits to Belgium, Polynesia, and Argentina, and reflected on his relationship with his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
Additionally, Pope Francis offered perspectives on global issues like the war in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza. He criticized the normalization of war and its impact, especially on the youth, and condemned the role of arms manufacturers in sustaining conflicts.
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Francis’ personal choices for his funeral and burial reflect the broader themes of his papacy: pastoral care and a commitment to addressing global challenges.
Saint Mary Major
The Basilica of St. Mary Major, also known as Santa Maria Maggiore, is one of the most significant structures in the Catholic Church. It was originally called the Liberian Basilica but was renamed following the Council of Ephesus in 431, which proclaimed Mary as “Theotokos,” Mother of God.
Its dedication is celebrated annually on Aug. 5, marking a miraculous snowfall that led to its founding. The story of Our Lady of the Snows further enhances its mystique, commemorating the divine intervention that led to its construction on the Esquiline Hill in Rome.
As the principal Marian church, St. Mary Major stands out for its antiquity, dedication to the Blessed Mother, and its status as a papal basilica.
Santa Maria Maggiore is not just an architectural marvel but also a final resting place for several historical figures. Six popes are buried here: Pope Honorius III, Pope Nicholas IV, Pope St. Pius V, Pope Sixtus V, Pope Clement VIII and Pope Clement IX. Additionally, the revered St. Jerome, known for translating the Scriptures into Latin, lies in the Bethlehem crypt.
Portrait, Pope St. Pius V
Bartolomeo Passarotti, c. 1566
Walters Art Museum
Ironic Juxtaposition?
Pope Francis’ preferred burial place has drawn attention to what some perceive as a particular irony. This arises from the contrast between Pope St. Pius V and Pope Francis regarding the Latin Mass.
Pope St. Pius V, buried in the same basilica, was instrumental in solidifying the Traditional Latin Mass with apostolic constitution Quo Primum in 1570. In stark contrast, Pope Francis, with his apostolic letter Traditionis Custodes, has significantly restricted the use of the Roman Liturgy prior to the 1970 reform.
This juxtaposition of the two within Santa Maria Maggiore, if Francis is interred there, would underscore a complex divergence in the historic liturgical journey of the Latin rite.